Incubator



June 4, 1940. D. o. LAGER 2,203,335

INCUBATOR Filed Aug. 15, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. O LASER INVENTOR.

A TTORN E YS.

June 4, 1940. I Q LAGER 2,203,335

INCUBATOR Filed Aug. 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 O 0 r\ Q IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

June 4, 1940.

D. o. LAGER 2,203,335

INCUBATOR- Filed Aug. 13, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 D. O. LAGEQ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Jun 4, 1940. D. o. LAGER INCUBATOR Filed Aug. 13, 195'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 4, 1940 fuNlTEo STATES PATENT orslcs INC UBATOR David )scar Lager, Helena, Mont. I Application August 13: 1937, Serial N0. 158,5398

1 Claim.

This invention relates to incubators, the primary object of the invention being to provide an incubator of the battery type, having means for causing a complete circulation of air through the body portion of the incubator to the end that an even temperature within the incubator will be insured throughout the entire area of the incubator, at all times.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for admitting cold air at a point near the bottom of the body portion of the housing and liberating the air within the incubator at a point adjacent to the heating coils or heating element thereof, with the result that the fresh air entering the incubator will be properly heated prior to its contact with the eggs contained in. the trays of the incubator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described,

may be made within the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an incubator, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the incubator is box-like in construction and includes an outer wall 5 and an inner wall 6, the walls being spaced providing a compartment completely surrounding the body portion or housing, for the reception of insulating material indicated 5 by the reference character 1. Outlet pipes 5' are provided and extend between the walls 5 and 6, establishing communication between the interior of the incubator and atmosphere. At the front end of the body portion or housing, is a 50 door 8 which also embodies spaced members 9 and I0 between which insulating material is held. Passageways indicated by the reference character I I are disposed vertically of the front end of the body portion or housing, the passageways being 55 of lengths to extend from points adjacent to the floor of the body portion or housing, to points adjacent to the ceiling thereof.

The lower ends of the passageways I I are open and spaced from the bottom of the body portion or housing, so that air may enter at the lower 5 ends of the passageways and be directed upwardly therethrough. Openings I2 formed in the front wall of the body portion or housing, establish communication between the passageways and the atmosphere, to the end that air of room tempera-- ture may be drawn into the passageways to mingle with the air circulating throughout the area of the body portion or housing, which enters the passageways II at the lower ends thereof.

The upper ends of the passageways I I are sub- 15' stantially wide, and extend inwardly terminating at a point substantially intermediate the side edges of the body'portion or housing, where they communicate with the blower housing I3 in which the blower or fan I4 operates. The inner 20 end of the housing I3 is open, so that the air drawn into the passageways I I will be forced outwardly into the body portion. or housing at a point near the ceiling thereof where the air is directed against the heating coils I5 through 2 which hot water electricity or steam may be passed to supply heat to the interior of the in-' cubator.

The rear end wall of the body portion or housing is supplied with an opening I6 near the bot- 39 tom thereof, which opening establishes communication between the passageway I l and the atmosphere. This passageway I! also has its lower end open so that air circulating through the body portion or housing may enter the passage- 35 way at the lower end thereof. At the upper end of the passageway I1 is a blower housing It in which the blower I9 operates, to the end that the air drawn through the passageway I! may be exhausted near the ceiling of the body portion 40 or housing and directed against the heating coils.

Cooling coils 20 are supported within the body portion or housing, at opposite sides of the heating coils I5, the cooling coils extending throughout the length of the body portion or housing, as shown by Figure 2 of the drawings. Thus it will be seen that by this arrangement of heating and cooling coils, an even temperature within the body portion or housing may be maintained.

The racks for the egg trays are indicated by the reference character 2|, and are arranged in spaced relation with the side walls of the body' portion or housing, the spaces between the racks .55

and side walls accommodating the agitators 22, each of which being in the form of blades 23 mounted on shafts 24, on which the pulleys 25 are secured, the pulleys receiving motion from the motors 26 mounted on the top of the body portion or housing, through the medium of the belts 21. These agitators maintain a circulation of air between the trays supported in the racks, maintaining an even temperature over the eggs held within the trays.

It will of course be understood that these racks are arranged to provide a center aisle, through which the attendant may walk in taking care of the eggs being hatched.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, a complete circulation of air will be maintained throughout the entire area of the body portion or housing, to the end that all of the eggs, regardless of whether they are on the upper or lower trays of the racks, will receive the proper amount of heat to accomplish the hatching of the eggs.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In an incubator, a housing, egg racks within the housing and disposed at opposite sides there of, vertical air ducts Within the housing, the lower ends of the air ducts being. spaced from the floor of the housing, said air ducts having openings establishing communication with the atmosphere, a substantially wide horizontal air duct connecting the upper ends of the vertical air ducts, a fan positioned'in the horizontal duct and adapted to draw air from the bottom of the housing and from the exterior of the housing through the vertical ducts, discharging the air at the ceiling of the housing, heating coils arranged adjacent to the ceiling of the housing and against which the air is discharged heating the air, and fans operating at the sides of the *housing and adapted to circulate the air at the sides of the egg racks.

' DAVID OSCAR LAGER, 

